NAB Challenge: Carlton vs. Essendon Sunday 28th Feb

[blue4life]

Watching the game from the stands, one player who really looked completely at sea was Jeb Lamb.

Hopefully a few of the GWS boys come through, but Jed was tentative, easily beaten by his opponent, and did nothing positive when he came near the ball - at least on the Gardiner Stand side. Would be very disappointed if he gets a game until he stops looking like he accidentally put on a jumper and wandered onto the ground.

I still think that trading pick 7 in 2013 was a big mistake.
Whiley really doesn't look to be anything out of the ordinary and Jaksch played at least 10 VFL games last season in what was his third year, Boekhurst looks OK in flashes but pick 7 can get you a top liner and none of them remotely approach it in my opinion.
As for this year's crop of GWS leftovers, Kerridge looks to be way better than any of them and cost us Menzel but we got pick 28 and him in return, Menzel was another one of our first round busts so Kerridge was a bargain as far as I'm concerned.
We're sort of getting it half right these days but we're still trying to fluke good players from the bargain bin, which is a risky strategy that rarely pays dividends.

[Thryleon]

I still think that trading pick 7 in 2013 was a big mistake.
Whiley really doesn't look to be anything out of the ordinary and Jaksch played at least 10 VFL games last season in what was his third year, Boekhurst looks OK in flashes but pick 7 can get you a top liner and none of them remotely approach it in my opinion.
As for this year's crop of GWS leftovers, Kerridge looks to be way better than any of them and cost us Menzel but we got pick 28 and him in return, Menzel was another one of our first round busts so Kerridge was a bargain as far as I'm concerned.
We're sort of getting it half right these days but we're still trying to fluke good players from the bargain bin, which is a risky strategy that rarely pays dividends.

Its all relative though.

That particular draft crop are not showing much at the moment.

We might have jagged a Nakia Cockatoo, but even he hasnt shown all that much just yet.

[blue4life]

Its all relative though.

That particular draft crop are not showing much at the moment.

We might have jagged a Nakia Cockatoo, but even he hasnt shown all that much just yet.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but at the time we traded a pick that in the past had secured Sellwood, Rich and Ryder for what looks to be three pedestrian footballers.
We had no way of knowing whether pick 7 would bring us a Sellwood or a Mitch Thorpe, but historically pick 7 is a good player more often than a dud.
The trade may ultimately work in our favour, it's the decision making process behind it that I question.

[Thryleon]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but at the time we traded a pick that in the past had secured Sellwood, Rich and Ryder for what looks to be three pedestrian footballers.
We had no way of knowing whether pick 7 would bring us a Sellwood or a Mitch Thorpe, but historically pick 7 is a good player more often than a dud.
The trade may ultimately work in our favour, it's the decision making process behind it that I question.

Thats the thing.  I think we made that call knowing Rogers was doing our recruiting, and to see how we would go at the negotiation table in his last hurrah so to speak.

At the time we did it, we made a call saying that we are better off turning 1 reasonably high pick into jaksch, boekhorst and Whiley, and thus far, it looks as though Boekhorst might make it, Whiley is ordinary (which we need more of) and Jaksch is a question mark that has shown bits and pieces.  Either way there is nothing in that top 20 that we missed out on that says we overlooked a gun, but I do wonder why we opted for a light runner, rather than a Hugh Goddard who is a CHB in the making which might have setup our backline for the next ten years.

[blue4life]

... but I do wonder why we opted for a light runner, rather than a Hugh Goddard who is a CHB in the making which might have setup our backline for the next ten years.

Kane Lucas......Daniel Talia, but it's no use crying over spilt milk.

[kruddler]

Gorringe best is probably better than Philips and I did see him take a nice mark or two but he lacks intensity....Philips ruckwork isnt bad for a novice but he seemed butterfingered vs the Bombers
and couldnt hang onto the ball....both perform better when played as the 1st ruck..

Phillips is an upgrade on Warnock, whether he can mark or not, he looks more likely too and his tapwork isn't half bad.
Gorringe is an upgrade on Watson. Uses his size a lot better and has more of an influence on the game given limited opportunites.....to this point.

[Professer E]

Whiley worries me, but so do half the list.

[BluePhantom]

Whiley worries me, but so do half the list.

Whiley Coyote just needs to realise he needs to get rid of the ball quicker, make his decisions quicker etc

[northernblue]

Whiley Coyote just needs to realise he needs to get rid of the ball quicker, make his decisions quicker etc

I was thinking the same, if he's just slow of foot then he might make it, but if he's slow of mind (or both) then he's toast.

[Gointocarlton]

I was thinking the same, if he's just slow of foot then he might make it, but if he's slow of mind (or both) then he's toast.

Cant handball very well either. Has an awful technique.